Kim Clijsters might have taken time away from tennis for two years but you wouldn’t know it from the way she played at the 2009 U.S. Open.   Clijsters has become the first mom to win a major title since 1980.
After winning the U.S. Open in 2005, Clijsters decided to retire since she had been suffering from several injuries and started a family.  With her baby’s name tattooed on her wrist, Clijsters said she was “starting from zero” and of her effort to get back in shape she said “no swear words like Serena yesterday, but a lot of swearing at …read more

Defending U.S. Open champion, Serena Williams, will not be in the finals this year after losing to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.  As has been the case with many of her most recent battles, Williams seemed to just come unglued out on the court.

Things actually got nasty after a line judge called her for a foot fault.  Williams disagreed with the judge and then proceeded to basically freak out on him.  She wasn’t willing to take her abuse and promptly complained to the chair umpire and supervisor about her behavior which resulted in Clijsters being awarded the next point since …read more

As if there was any doubt, it’s now official – Roger Federer has made the semifinals at the 2009 U.S. Open in New York and is on pace to win the event a record six times in a row.  Federer faced Robin Soderling last night and, in all honesty, looked a little worried by the time he reached the third set.

Federer made the first two sets look easy but then Soderling came roaring back and challenged the Swiss tennis star in the following four sets.  Federer ended up walking away with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6) victory …read more

The Cinderella story continues for 17-year-old American, Melanie Oudin, who has advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal ever.  I’ve been cheering for her ever since she knocked out Elena Dementieva (she also dismissed Maria Sharapova) but I doubted her ability to make it this far – I love it when an athlete proves me wrong!
This 70th-ranked teen took out 13th-seeded Nadia Petrova 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 with a tremendous amount of determination and guts.  She looked a little shaky at first but she fought her way to the victory.  “I don’t actually mean to lose the first set. I …read more

While Andy Roddick was eliminated by fellow American, John Isner, his 2009 Wimbledon foe, Roger Federer, had no problem steamrolling over Tommy Robredo  7-5, 6-2, 6-2.  Federer hasn’t lost any of his last 38 match and he hasn’t been defeated at the U.S. Open since 2003.  Federer will face Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals.
While Isner celebrated upsetting Roddick, his ride came to an end when he was beaten by Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.  This is big news because this is the first time in U.S. Open history that an American man failed to make the quarterfinals. Verdasco will …read more

Maria Sharapova appeared to be on the verge of a great comeback after really struggling since her shoulder injury.  Any plans to progress to the finals at the 2009 U.S. Open were ended, however, when the Russian star lost to American teenager, Melanie Oudin.

The upset happened when the 70th ranked, Oudin, beat former No. 1, Sharapova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.  Sharapova appeared to have the edge during the opening set but things quickly changed with Oudin found her rhythm.  When the match was decided, Oudin burst into tears with excitement.
The teen from Georgia is enjoying a great …read more

Rafael Nadal enjoyed an easy 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center at the 2009 U.S. Open yesterday.  I was really happy to see him win even though it was unlikely that he would have been eliminated so early in the event, despite being rusty after taking time off due to a knee injury.

Nadal has never reached the final at the U.S. Open and he will next be tested by Nicolas Kiefer, which really could be a test for the Spaniard.  Hopefully, he will move on since I’d like to see …read more

I don’t normally comment on what the players are wearing but it seems like Maria Sharapova’s clothing is always being talked about.  I usually ignore it but I had to say something this time.
She had been wearing this awful, ill-fitting dress and I really don’t know what Nike was thinking when they gave that to her.  I would have even refused to wear it, to be honest.  I thought it was hideous and most outlets felt the same way.

Today, at the 2009 U.S. Open, she debuted a new look and I’m so happy!  The black dress was a lot more …read more

No surprises here!  Reigning champions, Roger Federer and Serena Williams, sailed through the first round during Day 1 of the 2009 U.S. Open.
Federer, who has won this event five years in a row, needed just 88 minutes to cruise past Devin Britton with a final score of 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.  Britton made the victory pretty easy since he committed 40 unforced errors.  This was Federer’s 35th straight win at the U.S. Open.

The Swiss star was a gentleman about the win saying: “He did play I think really well. He had some very good spells, and I …read more

The U.S. Open starts today so I thought I would take the chance to make some predictions.  Feel free to share your own in the comments!
In the men’s tournament, I don’t see anyone but Roger Federer taking this title.  He’s currently enjoying a hot streak and he is the only man to ever win the U.S. Open five times in a row (Jimmy Connors and Pete  Sampras also won the event five times but it wasn’t in succession like Federer).  It would definitely secure his place as the dominator of the event if he could win it for a record …read more